“Okay, gather round! It’s time for some spooky stories,” Chrissy yelled, as the sorority recruits took their seats around the campfire.

Once everyone was settled and had a marshmallow toasting over the fire, she began her slow stalk around the circle.

“Now, where shall we begin,” she asked, gently touching each girl on the shoulder as she passed.

“What about the elusive Snail Trail? Once you reach the end, you never make it out...Alive,” said Taylor, Chrissy’s partner-in-crime and one of the other soon-to-be graduating sisters.

“I love that story Tay, but I’m thinking of one a little more spooky,” Chrissy replied, as she continued her walk.

“Maybe Pedusa, the penis head that cripples young women with a single look!” Natalia shrieked.

Nervous laughter shifted around the fire, and Chrissy smiled.

“God, that’s a good story too. But, not exactly what I had in mind.”

“Yoga Assassin!” squeaked a high-pitched voice.

“I swear, Hannah, if you bring up the assassin story one more time, I’m going to assassinate you.”

“It’s a good story!” Hannah said. “My favorite.”

“Yes, we know, but it’s also been told at every camping adventure we’ve had. I’m looking for something fresh this time.” Chrissy had already made her way around the large circle once and felt her temper flare. They did not want her to walk around it twice without having decided on a story to share.

“What about The Vaganimal,” a meek voice said.

Chrissy’s designer hiking boots stopped dead in their tracks. “Who said that?” She glared around the fire, waiting for the source of the story to speak up, when finally one of the new pledges raised her hand in silence. Chrissy eyed her suspiciously, then made her way through the young women towards her.

“What’s your name?” she asked, almost accusingly.

“Ma-Margeaux,” the girl replied.

Chrissy eyed her up and down once more before speaking. “The Vaganimal, what story is that?”

“Curse of The Vag.”

“Okay, Margeaux,” Chrissy said sharply. “You can share your story, since you so rudely interrupted me. Tell it, and if it’s good enough, you won’t have to suffer the consequences. At least they shouldn’t be too bad.” As the light from the fire danced across Chrissy’s face, a hint of wickedness seemed to mingle with it.

Margeaux knew she’d made a mistake by speaking up, especially to Chrissy, the meanest of all the graduating girls. But she needed this chance to show the older girls and everyone else that she has what it takes to be a member of their sorority, Ph-Uc-Ee.

Chrissy led Margeaux to her own seat, which sat like a throne, higher than any of the other girls, and pushed her into it. Then she handed over the golden dildo, which designated that Margeaux had the floor, so to speak.

Margeaux watched as Chrissy squeezed into Taylor’s seat with her and got comfortable.

“Go on,” Chrissy said, while Taylor flashed Margeaux what looked to be a genuinely, kind smile.

A few of the girls sniggered around the campfire, and Margeaux took a deep breath in an effort to ignore them, then began.

“It happened a long time ago, on a night just like this one.” Margeaux looked up to the monstrous full moon in the sky, and gently shook the chill from her skin. “The story goes like this.”

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Elle Mills, who, on her final day of university would have her life forever changed. As Elle gently stirred on this fated day, with her freshly painted toenails sliding across the virginal sheets of her bed, something sinister was also awakening in the woods, not far from where she lay. Something cursed.

Twelve hours later

“All dressed up and everywhere to go,” Elle’s best friend Krystal said with a giggle. “Now where would you, Miss Valedictorian, like to go first?”

Elle looked down as her face began to burn. The sun was setting and she hoped it’s vibrant colors streaming in through the window would hide the scarlet she felt in her cheeks.

“Wherever you want,” she said, before looking back up. Elle already knew the night would bring trouble. She’d been on the verge of cancelling their “Night on the Town” plans since she’d agreed to them, but knew it would crush Krystal.

Is a friend really a friend if you never hang out with them?

Elle wanted to be a true friend and this had been her deciding factor in following through.

“I know I said I’d cut loose, a little, but I need to be back by midnight. I have that early flight to catch.”

Krystal’s excited pacing quickly came to a halt. She stamped her high, hooker heel onto the hardwood floor and grabbed Elle by the shoulders. “By golly-gosh Elle,” she began in her goody-two-shoe voice, “this, is your chance. Your last chance to see what college is really like. Not textbooks, classes, or studying. It’s time for you to live a little, to live the life of a college student. I mean, what twenty-one year old doesn’t even celebrate their birthday.”

“I did celebrate it, remember? Pizza and movies!”

Krystal’s head tilted to the side and her eyebrows gave a raise. “You know what I mean. Get your panties out of your ass and cut the good girl bullshit! It’s time to party! I don’t want to hear another word about you having to be back early or read the latest financial news, blah-blah-blah.”

Krystal put her hands firmly on her hips, while giving Elle a fierce stare. “Fine. If you won’t pick where we’ll go, then I will. All the hot guys hang at the Koc-Beaux-Te Frat, so that’s our first stop.”

Elle heaved a deep breath as Krystal grabbed her by the hand and led her away from her comfort zone and out into the darkening night.

The moon seemed larger than usual and loomed brightly over the sky.

“Full moon,” she whispered, almost under her breath.

“Ooh, all the werewolves should be out tonight,” Krystal said with a smile. “We don’t want to get bit, or do we?”

Elle ignored Krystal and tried shaking out the nervousness she felt, but it wasn’t easy.

The air was brisk for a late spring evening and Elle’s body prickled over with goose bumps as they walked the busy streets of her small college town.

She heard the thumping bass first, then saw the over-entertaining frat house. Lit up with a colorful array of streaming lights, it appeared welcoming, yet simultaneously intimidating.

As the music continued blaring upon their approach, Elle was able to truly see the mob of people, some students, others clearly much older, gathered around the entire vicinity of the house.

Just before stepping up onto the curb toward their descent, Elle stopped dead in her tracks and yanked on Krystal’s arm.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “I’ve got a bad feeling.”

“Don’t be silly, girl! You’re just nervous because you’ve never been to a real party. Everything will be fine, trust me.” Krystal’s heavily painted eyelashes batted down at Elle. “I’ll stay with you the whole time. I promise.”

Elle knew she meant it, but would soon find out that sometimes the situation has a way of preventing a person from keeping their promises.

With a gentle tug to her hand and an excited grin from her best friend, Elle allowed Krystal to guide her the rest of the way into the chaos. She even managed to force a smile on her face.

Her grip on Krystal’s hand remained vice-like as they made their way through the crowded lawn and finally across the threshold.

In that instant, a loud pop rang out, startling Elle who quickly ducked her head.

After taking a second, she looked up, allowing her eyes to find the source of the sound. Fireworks, outside. A group had formed at the end of the driveway and were setting off another one, which soon gave way to the sky in a show of glittering magenta. Even if Elle had tried, she wouldn’t have been able to keep the corners of her mouth from curling up, into her first honest smile of the evening.

The frat house was more crowded inside than the yard was. Smoke danced through the air, while music blared from a DJ’s booth in the corner. The house had an invigorating energy of it’s own, which finally began to fuel Elle’s excitement.

“Let’s grab a drink,” Krystal said in Elle’s ear, before pushing her way towards the kitchen.

Around a large, circular table, a dozen people stood with their heads tilted back, emptying the contents of tiny cups into their mouths. A line leading to a keg in the corner was slowly shortening, and at a cluttered counter stood countless bottles of booze and mixers.

“What do you want?” Krystal yelled through the noise.

Elle’s eyes widened. Sure, she’d sipped wine before with her parents at formal dinners and even had a Cosmo during a shopping trip with her mother, but besides those occasions, she didn’t drink. Without any bar menus to give her suggestions, she shouted the first thing that came to mind.

“Martini!”

Krystal shot her a sideways glance. “Elle, we’re at a frat party! No bartender here!”

Flustered, Elle’s hands cradled the sides of her face.

After a cringe worthy moment, Krystal took the reigns and yelled, “I’ll get you what I’m having! It’ll be good, I promise!”

There she goes again with those promises.

Krystal gave her a clumpy wink, before fighting her way to the kitchen counter.

Elle tried to casually look around and see if she recognized anyone from her accelerated learning classes. There certainly were a lot of cute guys, who seemed to be having the time of their lives, but no one was familiar. Chewing on her bottom lip, Elle glanced back towards the counter and stood up on her tiptoes, looking for Krystal. Her heart began to race with each second, as her eyes continued searching.

After an agonizing minute, she spotted her best friend waving her over towards the French doors, at the back of the kitchen. Minutes later, they both had a drink in their hand and were outside on the patio in the backyard, away from the most of chaos. They were surrounded by a more relaxed crowd, who were able to converse with each other without yelling.

Before Elle had time to thank Krystal for the drink, two men approached, who looked to be in their early twenties, and the small talk began. Both were students attending the same school, and they also had one year left until graduation, like Krystal. They marveled at Elle’s motivation to increase her school load and take the advanced classes, thus finishing a year ahead of schedule, stating it was likely the smartest thing any of them had ever done. But, they also called it ludicrous, saying they’d never have the ability to do it, and why would they want to? They’d be real adults soon enough, with all the miserable responsibilities that come with it. Why rush?

The taller man, Erick, had classic good looks, which were only accentuated by his preppy, rich-kid outfit. Elle noticed as his attention gradually began to shift, and it soon seemed he only had eyes for her. She giggled nervously at his jokes, while taking gulps of the wickedly strong drink Krystal made her.

Elle wasn’t sure if he was actually “flirting” or not, as she didn’t have any experience in the courtship department, having never had a boyfriend or been on a single date. This wasn’t for lack of men trying, but was instead due to her laser-sharp focus on obtaining her dream career.

She almost skipped her own high school prom, but Krystal put her foot down as usual, and wrangled up her older brother to take Elle.

An extremely attractive woman with coveted girl-next-door qualities, Elle had been asked out more than a dozen times, but declined every offer. She wouldn’t let anyone, including herself, get in the way of her career. She couldn’t risk any obstacles; no love, no passion, not even a purely physical relationship.

With each giggle, her loose waves gently danced around her shoulders, while her bright eyes continued glowing. Her lean and athletic body finally felt relaxed.

Along with her strict education curriculum, Elle maintained a militaristic approach to her health and body, which showed. She’d learned these health habits from her mother, who was a model in her younger years. A decade of running and pilates kept her lean and elongated. More than enough sleep, fruits and vegetables, and at least a gallon of water every day were the secrets to her flawless complexion.

Erick leaned in, telling her another joke, and Elle gazed up into his dark eyes. His body moved closer and she caught a whiff of manly-scented body wash still lingering on his bronzed skin. The smell only added to her intoxication, whose initial credit was owed to the stiff drink she was still gulping from.

In this moment of excitement bordering on the verge of unfamiliar lust, Elle sensed something else, something dangerous about this man. The way he leaned in, positioning his body in an almost dominant way, was starting to make her uncomfortable, but his charming smile and silly jokes quickly put her back at ease.

Suddenly, in the distance Elle heard the sound of sirens approaching. People began flooding out from the French doors, and someone yelled, “Cops! Run!”

Before Elle realized what was happening, Erick grabbed her by the hand and began running off towards the woods behind the house. She briefly looked back and saw Krystal following her, hand-in-hand with the other man.

“This way,” Erick said in a husky voice, veering right into the woods.

Elle looked back again and saw that Krystal was no longer behind them.

“Wait!” she screamed, but he kept running, pulling her deeper into the woods.

Finally after what seemed like eternity, they slowed to a stop. Elle bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.

After a few minutes, she straightened up and looked around. They were in unfamiliar territory, deep in the woods, surrounded by giant trees. With the realization that she was lost and accompanied by someone she had only just met, Elle felt an unsettling panic nestle deep in her gut.

Looking up at the night sky, she saw that at least the domineering moon was still with her, and this gave her comfort.

But it was short lived.

The sound of the rustling leaves in the emptiness quickly reminded her of the dire predicament she was in. No other people around, no street lights to guide her way, and no sirens nearby. Elle was lost, and possibly on her own.

“Why did we go this way? We should have followed them!”

“Nah, babe. They’re the ones who went the wrong way. The woods always gets searched about fifty feet in, and they looped back around towards the street. Busted, for sure.”

Elle was at her wits end. Being busted by the cops seemed like a better idea than being lost in the woods.

“I just have no idea where we are,” she said, shaking her head in frustration.

“You’re safe with me,” he said, with a wink. “I know these woods inside and out. Spent a lot of time in them. Plus, I can find our location on my phone.”

She watched as he pulled the phone from his pocket, and turned it on. He stared at it briefly, before letting out a sigh. “Darn, no service,” he said with a sly smile. “We’ll be fine.”

If only I’d brought my phone, Elle thought. Damn Krystal for insisting I leave it home! Now, I’m screwed!

Elle felt a shiver go down her spine from the cool air. The skimpy tank top Krystal made her wear did a lot to show off her ample curves, but nothing to keep her warm.

She began rubbing her arms in an effort to generate some heat, unsure of what to do next.

“Chilly?” Erick asked, seeming genuinely concerned.

Elle nodded silently.

He approached her slowly and reached out, wrapping his arms around her.

She almost pushed him away, but the heat from his body was too comforting to turn down. Her body stayed rigid for several minutes, until her guard softened some, allowing her to melt into him a little.

After a while, Elle finally asked, “What are we going to do now?” Before waiting for a response, she let out a sigh and said, “I knew this was a bad idea. Damn Krystal for talking me into it.”

“What’s the problem?” he asked, squeezing her a bit tighter.

Uneasiness in the pit of her stomach began to stir, and she looked down, eying his arms suspiciously.

“I have an early flight tomorrow and still have some loose ends to wrap up. I’m heading back home until graduation to work on my interview techniques, and hopefully land my dream job.”

“Dream job? What could possibly be your dream job, beautiful?”

The heat and alcohol from his breath made her dizzy with a crawling revulsion. It seemed her own body, unfamiliar with the alcohol, yet used to detoxifying itself, was metabolizing the booze in record time, causing her to sober up faster than expected.

Elle hesitated, trying to feel out the situation before continuing. “I want to be an event coordinator at one of New York City’s premier locations.”

“Sounds glamorous.” One of Erick’s arms briefly loosened and reached out to her long hair. He touched it gently, stroking it from the top of her head down to her shoulders. “Tell me more.”

Elle shook off the strange feelings and continued. The one thing that could cloud her judgement, so to speak, were thoughts of her dream job. “I’ve been working my whole life to get my career. It’s the only thing that’s important to me. My career is my goal, my only one,” she said with conviction.

Her hand reached up gently and touched his for a moment before roughly pushing it away. “I will do anything to achieve it. And I am not interested in a relationship.”

“Whoa baby. Don’t get tough on me. There's more than a relationship. Besides, I’m flying to LA next year after I graduate, to take a chance at acting. Already have my headshots and everything. Cousin’s an agent and said he can get me a few auditions.”

“Oh really?” Elle said with a smirk.

“No doubt baby, so what do you say? Why don’t we take advantage of this situation and christen these woods?” His fingers continued stroking her hair, while his other arm wrapped around her tightly.

“No. Can we start walking back now?”

She felt Erick’s grip around her tighten. His face moved closer to her body, into the crease of her neck, where his breathing was shallow and rushed.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Elle. We’ll stay right here. And get to know each other better. Much better. We’ll get truly acquainted.”

Oh no, Elle thought.

I should’ve never left my condo. What does this creep have in mind?

With her body trembling and an unknown fear stirring, Elle tried stepping away. Erick’s arm cinched around her waist even tighter and he gave a gentle yank on the strand of hair he was playing with.

“Ow! You’re hurting me!”

“I like to mix my pleasure with a little pain. Now, if you’ll just stop squirming and let me take you.”

“No!” she screamed, remembering her self-defense training. The class hadn’t been her idea, but was rather the insistence of Krystal’s dad, who was a karate instructor. Together, they'd taken one of his self-defense classes several years ago, and the memories from it came rushing back.

She rotated her body before Erick knew what was happening, and with one swift move her knee met his groin, followed by her heel stomping down onto the top of his foot, piercing the skin and causing blood to pool in the bottom of his flip-flop. She finished the move with a good, hard push and sent him backwards.

Erick yelled out in pain, almost like the howl of an injured animal, falling to the dirt. With one hand on his foot and the other on his groin, he yelled, “Snotty bitch! They were right about you! Stuck-up woman! I’m going to give you what you deserve!”

Elle was in such a state of shock at what she’d done, that she remained planted in place. She stared at him in horror, listening to his threats, with her heart pounding until the flight or fight mechanism finally kicked in.

Just as she was turning to run away, she saw him hop to his feet like a ninja and begin charging her. Elle screamed and started running further into the woods. She knew he was right behind her, she could hear his curses and the sound of twigs and leaves crunching.

But she was faster. All those marathons paid off, in an effort to save her life. She was losing him and saw what appeared to be some sort of cave in front of her. She could make it, hide in there until he was gone.

Almost there, maybe a few more feet and out of nowhere, her center of gravity shifted. She felt her heel catch on something and pull her back, stopping her from reaching the safe haven. She came down hard, falling flat on her face.

After a moment, she came back to reality and tried pulling her leg up, but it was no use, she couldn’t free it.

Quickly reaching back, she unhooked the strap from her shoe, releasing her foot. With pain radiating through her face and arms, she began crawling to her feet, pulling herself closer to the cave.

The sound of Erick behind her became louder as he grew near. Elle was a few mere feet from the cave, when he pounced on her. In a half-ass wrestling move, he jumped onto her back, and pinned her to the ground.

“Now you’re going to pay!” he said, through gritted teeth.

Elle bit her lip as tears of defeat stung in her eyes. A strange sense of vulnerability began coursing through her rigid body. As someone who always maintained the strictest control over her life, Elle sensed doom that the one time she let her guard down, was the time it would all be over for her. This was it. She was done. She just knew it.

“Help! Help me!” she cried.

Elle felt her shirt being ripped apart and heard a disgusting grunt from Erick. The cool air hit her skin, stinging it in anticipation for what was to come.

Maybe if I just lay here and submit, it will be over soon and I can walk out of here damaged, but still alive. He wouldn’t kill me, would he?

Her pants came off next, the flimsy material ripping apart easily. Wearing only her bra and panties, she cried out in fear, to which Erick simply laughed.

“It’s go time, baby.”

Elle screamed again, a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream. One she didn’t think could possibly come out of her own delicate mouth. This was it, and she squeezed her eyes as tight as possible wishing it was only a bad dream.

In that moment, everything seemed to go quiet. Then, she heard something; something besides the sound of the disgusting man on top of her. A rustling noise, coming at them fast, and aggressively. Erick seemed to hear it too and froze. His breath quieted. She felt his body shift before he called out, “Who’s there?”

The rustling sound came closer.

Elle felt Erick’s grip loosen on her and his body weight vanished.

She kept her eyes closed tightly, waiting for the noise to show itself, with either her being attacked by the wilding who dragged her into the woods, or the unknown; whatever had been silently watching them. Whatever it was, she knew it was going to be bad, very bad. Life changing or possibly ending.

Out of nowhere, a large howl filled the air. Elle heard Erick scramble to his feet, away from her. She heard the zipper on his pants, then the sound of a deep growl, one that was not human.

“Oh shit!” Erick yelled.

Elle opened her eyes and rolled onto her back. From between her knees in the darkness, she saw two yellow eyes, glowing menacingly at them. The eyes were getting larger as the creature moved closer. The growl came again, this time more frightening than before. Elle held her breath for a moment as her heart pounded in her chest. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up and her dirty hands squeezed at the earth.

“Move away from the girl,” a deep voice growled.

Elle looked up at Erick who simultaneously glanced at her, with a bewildered look on his face. The tough guy seemed to be the one shaking now.

“Get away from the girl!” The voice became louder as did the rustling, until it finally emerged. From the shadows, out came a giant half-man half-beast. It was at least ten feet tall, larger than any man Elle had ever seen.

She gasped while Erick stood frozen in shock.

“I will give you a taste of your own medicine if you do not leave now. Rape, as they call it,” the menacing voice said, this time showing large fanged teeth.

Elle quickly glanced down between the creature’s legs, but it was too dark to see what it was capable of. With a body like that, she didn’t doubt its ability to take advantage of someone.

Erick looked at Elle, and all the color seemed to drain from his face. He appeared to be going into shock.

Then in an instant, he began running off in the opposite direction.

Elle started slowly scooting towards the cave. Sticks and leaves rubbed roughly against her bare skin, but she didn’t notice. The fear and adrenaline coursing through her were enough to deaden any physical pain.

The strange looking creature approached her slowly, deliberately almost, as if it was taking the sight of her in. The large body fully emerged from the shadows and Elle gasped at what she saw.

Its massive body was bulked up and ripped with muscles. Its face was narrow, chin extremely pointy, with horns pointing up towards the sky. Dark skin, covered in what looked like coarse, animal-like hairs. And between its legs was the biggest cock and balls she'd ever seen.  

Another gasp escaped her, but not from fear. This thing, this man-creature was not only handsome, with its chiseled face and sharp features, but it was sexy.

In a strange way that felt reminiscent of fearful excitement, Elle was turned on.

“Are you okay?” it asked, with what appeared to be concern in its yellow eyes.

Taken aback by its care, she held her tongue. The usage of any language had slipped her mind and instead she simply let out her own animalistic grunt, coupled with a nod.

“Some men have no manners,” the creature quaffed as it continued its strange approach.

“Wh-what do you want?” she managed to squeak out.

“Straight to the point, I see.” It seemed to have some sort of exotic accent, and spoke as if it had a gentleman’s degree. “Did I hear you say something during your declarations to that heathen,” it said, motioning in the direction where Erick went running, “about having a certain desire? Something so dear you’d do anything for it?”

“What?” she asked. “My career?”

“Whatever it may be, I heard your wish for someone to save you, which I have done. But, I also heard the one thing that’s most important to you, ca-reer? Is that how you say it?”

Elle nodded.

This night was getting stranger by the second.

“This ca-reer, and I do apologize as this is the first time I have heard it. I have been educated some on your language, but do not know all.” The creature seemed less animal-like the more it spoke. “Most women I meet desire a partner, house with picket fence, or beauty. Common desires of the common woman. But for you, the ca-reer?”

“I-I suppose so,” she said. But, once again, as her mind shifted, she saw herself dressed to the nines, working with the elite, and throwing the most lavish parties ever attended. “Yes, I’d do anything. I’ve already sacrificed everything a twenty-one year old girl could.”

“Hmm,” it said, circling around her near-naked body. It’s long bony fingers stroking at its chin. “What if I could give it to you? The ca-reer? It can be done in a flash of the sky.”

“You mean, as fast as lightning?”

“Yes,” the creature said eagerly, with a smile.

“How? And who or rather, what are you?” she said, a slight quiver in her voice.

A wicked smile formed on its face as it said in a low voice, “I am the keeper of animalistic desire, Elle. The one who can bestow your most coveted wish, while unleashing what’s inside you. I, my dear, am The Vaganimal.”

Elle let out a gasp. “Vaganimal?”

“Yes.” It licked its lips and looked at her menacingly. “Now, let’s make a deal.”

*This is an excerpt from my short story, The Vaganimal which is self-published on Amazon.  There are currently three parts to the story, with more to come. 

A part of me

You once were

Unexpectedly knocking on life's door

I changed my ways for you 

Each day ready to start anew

Excited yet filled with fear

Knowing you were what I held dear

Then when least expected

Bad news they said

My babies had all become dead

A part of me 

You once were

Mourning you in my heart forever more

*This was written in January 2017, five days after my confirmed third miscarriage

“Okay, gather round! It’s time for some spooky stories,” Chrissy yelled, as the sorority recruits took their seats around the campfire.

Once everyone was settled and had a marshmallow toasting over the fire, she began her slow stalk around the circle.

“Now, where shall we begin,” she asked, gently touching each girl on the shoulder as she passed.

“What about the elusive Snail Trail? Once you reach the end, you never make it out...Alive,” said Taylor, Chrissy’s partner-in-crime and one of the other soon-to-be graduating sisters.

“I love that story Tay, but I’m thinking of one a little more spooky,” Chrissy replied, as she continued her walk.

“Maybe Pedusa, the penis head that cripples young women with a single look!” Natalia shrieked.

Nervous laughter shifted around the fire, and Chrissy smiled.

“God, that’s a good story too. But, not exactly what I had in mind.”

“Yoga Assassin!” squeaked a high-pitched voice.

“I swear, Hannah, if you bring up the assassin story one more time, I’m going to assassinate you.”

“It’s a good story!” Hannah said. “My favorite.”

“Yes, we know, but it’s also been told at every camping adventure we’ve had. I’m looking for something fresh this time.” Chrissy had already made her way around the large circle once and felt her temper flare. They did not want her to walk around it twice without having decided on a story to share.

“What about The Vaganimal,” a meek voice said.

Chrissy’s designer hiking boots stopped dead in their tracks. “Who said that?” She glared around the fire, waiting for the source of the story to speak up, when finally one of the new pledges raised her hand in silence. Chrissy eyed her suspiciously, then made her way through the young women towards her.

“What’s your name?” she asked, almost accusingly.

“Ma-Margeaux,” the girl replied.

Chrissy eyed her up and down once more before speaking. “The Vaganimal, what story is that?”

“Curse of The Vag.”

“Okay, Margeaux,” Chrissy said sharply. “You can share your story, since you so rudely interrupted me. Tell it, and if it’s good enough, you won’t have to suffer the consequences. At least they shouldn’t be too bad.” As the light from the fire danced across Chrissy’s face, a hint of wickedness seemed to mingle with it.

Margeaux knew she’d made a mistake by speaking up, especially to Chrissy, the meanest of all the graduating girls. But she needed this chance to show the older girls and everyone else that she has what it takes to be a member of their sorority, Ph-Uc-Ee.

Chrissy led Margeaux to her own seat, which sat like a throne, higher than any of the other girls, and pushed her into it. Then she handed over the golden dildo, which designated that Margeaux had the floor, so to speak.

Margeaux watched as Chrissy squeezed into Taylor’s seat with her and got comfortable.

“Go on,” Chrissy said, while Taylor flashed Margeaux what looked to be a genuinely, kind smile.

A few of the girls sniggered around the campfire, and Margeaux took a deep breath in an effort to ignore them, then began.

“It happened a long time ago, on a night just like this one.” Margeaux looked up to the monstrous full moon in the sky, and gently shook the chill from her skin. “The story goes like this.”

Once upon a time, there was a young woman named Elle Mills, who, on her final day of university would have her life forever changed. As Elle gently stirred on this fated day, with her freshly painted toenails sliding across the virginal sheets of her bed, something sinister was also awakening in the woods, not far from where she lay. Something cursed.

Twelve hours later

“All dressed up and everywhere to go,” Elle’s best friend Krystal said with a giggle. “Now where would you, Miss Valedictorian, like to go first?”

Elle looked down as her face began to burn. The sun was setting and she hoped it’s vibrant colors streaming in through the window would hide the scarlet she felt in her cheeks.

“Wherever you want,” she said, before looking back up. Elle already knew the night would bring trouble. She’d been on the verge of cancelling their “Night on the Town” plans since she’d agreed to them, but knew it would crush Krystal. 

Is a friend really a friend if you never hang out with them? 

Elle wanted to be a true friend and this had been her deciding factor in following through.

“I know I said I’d cut loose, a little, but I need to be back by midnight. I have that early flight to catch.”

Krystal’s excited pacing quickly came to a halt. She stamped her high, hooker heel onto the hardwood floor and grabbed Elle by the shoulders. “By golly-gosh Elle,” she began in her goody-two-shoe voice, “this, is your chance. Your last chance to see what college is really like. Not textbooks, classes, or studying. It’s time for you to live a little, to live the life of a college student. I mean, what twenty-one year old doesn’t even celebrate their birthday.”

“I did celebrate it, remember? Pizza and movies!”

Krystal’s head tilted to the side and her eyebrows gave a raise. “You know what I mean. Get your panties out of your ass and cut the good girl bullshit! It’s time to party! I don’t want to hear another word about you having to be back early or read the latest financial news, blah-blah-blah.”

Krystal put her hands firmly on her hips, while giving Elle a fierce stare. “Fine. If you won’t pick where we’ll go, then I will. All the hot guys hang at the Koc-Beaux-Te Frat, so that’s our first stop.”

Elle heaved a deep breath as Krystal grabbed her by the hand and led her away from her comfort zone and out into the darkening night.

The moon seemed larger than usual and loomed brightly over the sky.

“Full moon,” she whispered, almost under her breath.

“Ooh, all the werewolves should be out tonight,” Krystal said with a smile. “We don’t want to get bit, or do we?”

Elle ignored Krystal and tried shaking out the nervousness she felt, but it wasn’t easy.

The air was brisk for a late spring evening and Elle’s body prickled over with goose bumps as they walked the busy streets of her small college town.

She heard the thumping bass first, then saw the over-entertaining frat house. Lit up with a colorful array of streaming lights, it appeared welcoming, yet simultaneously intimidating.

As the music continued blaring upon their approach, Elle was able to truly see the mob of people, some students, others clearly much older, gathered around the entire vicinity of the house.

Just before stepping up onto the curb toward their descent, Elle stopped dead in her tracks and yanked on Krystal’s arm.

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” she said with a quiver in her voice. “I’ve got a bad feeling.”

“Don’t be silly, girl! You’re just nervous because you’ve never been to a real party. Everything will be fine, trust me.” Krystal’s heavily painted eyelashes batted down at Elle. “I’ll stay with you the whole time. I promise.”

Elle knew she meant it, but would soon find out that sometimes the situation has a way of preventing a person from keeping their promises.

With a gentle tug to her hand and an excited grin from her best friend, Elle allowed Krystal to guide her the rest of the way into the chaos. She even managed to force a smile on her face.

Her grip on Krystal’s hand remained vice-like as they made their way through the crowded lawn and finally across the threshold.

In that instant, a loud pop rang out, startling Elle who quickly ducked her head.

After taking a second, she looked up, allowing her eyes to find the source of the sound. Fireworks, outside. A group had formed at the end of the driveway and were setting off another one, which soon gave way to the sky in a show of glittering magenta. Even if Elle had tried, she wouldn’t have been able to keep the corners of her mouth from curling up, into her first honest smile of the evening.

The frat house was more crowded inside than the yard was. Smoke danced through the air, while music blared from a DJ’s booth in the corner. The house had an invigorating energy of it’s own, which finally began to fuel Elle’s excitement.

“Let’s grab a drink,” Krystal said in Elle’s ear, before pushing her way towards the kitchen.

Around a large, circular table, a dozen people stood with their heads tilted back, emptying the contents of tiny cups into their mouths. A line leading to a keg in the corner was slowly shortening, and at a cluttered counter stood countless bottles of booze and mixers.

“What do you want?” Krystal yelled through the noise.

Elle’s eyes widened. Sure, she’d sipped wine before with her parents at formal dinners and even had a Cosmo during a shopping trip with her mother, but besides those occasions, she didn’t drink. Without any bar menus to give her suggestions, she shouted the first thing that came to mind.

“Martini!”

Krystal shot her a sideways glance. “Elle, we’re at a frat party! No bartender here!”

Flustered, Elle’s hands cradled the sides of her face.

After a cringe worthy moment, Krystal took the reigns and yelled, “I’ll get you what I’m having!   It’ll be good, I promise!”

There she goes again with those promises.

Krystal gave her a clumpy wink, before fighting her way to the kitchen counter.

Elle tried to casually look around and see if she recognized anyone from her accelerated learning classes. There certainly were a lot of cute guys, who seemed to be having the time of their lives, but no one was familiar. Chewing on her bottom lip, Elle glanced back towards the counter and stood up on her tiptoes, looking for Krystal. Her heart began to race with each second, as her eyes continued searching.

After an agonizing minute, she spotted her best friend waving her over towards the French doors, at the back of the kitchen. Minutes later, they both had a drink in their hand and were outside on the patio in the backyard, away from the most of chaos. They were surrounded by a more relaxed crowd, who were able to converse with each other without yelling.

Before Elle had time to thank Krystal for the drink, two men approached, who looked to be in their early twenties, and the small talk began. Both were students attending the same school, and they also had one year left until graduation, like Krystal. They marveled at Elle’s motivation to increase her school load and take the advanced classes, thus finishing a year ahead of schedule, stating it was likely the smartest thing any of them had ever done. But, they also called it ludicrous, saying they’d never have the ability to do it, and why would they want to? They’d be real adults soon enough, with all the miserable responsibilities that come with it. Why rush?

The taller man, Erick, had classic good looks, which were only accentuated by his preppy, rich-kid outfit. Elle noticed as his attention gradually began to shift, and it soon seemed he only had eyes for her. She giggled nervously at his jokes, while taking gulps of the wickedly strong drink Krystal made her.

Elle wasn’t sure if he was actually “flirting” or not, as she didn’t have any experience in the courtship department, having never had a boyfriend or been on a single date. This wasn’t for lack of men trying, but was instead due to her laser-sharp focus on obtaining her dream career.

She almost skipped her own high school prom, but Krystal put her foot down as usual, and wrangled up her older brother to take Elle.

An extremely attractive woman with coveted girl-next-door qualities, Elle had been asked out more than a dozen times, but declined every offer. She wouldn’t let anyone, including herself, get in the way of her career. She couldn’t risk any obstacles; no love, no passion, not even a purely physical relationship.

With each giggle, her loose waves gently danced around her shoulders, while her bright eyes continued glowing. Her lean and athletic body finally felt relaxed.

Along with her strict education curriculum, Elle maintained a militaristic approach to her health and body, which showed. She’d learned these health habits from her mother, who was a model in her younger years. A decade of running and pilates kept her lean and elongated. More than enough sleep, fruits and vegetables, and at least a gallon of water every day were the secrets to her flawless complexion.

Erick leaned in, telling her another joke, and Elle gazed up into his dark eyes. His body moved closer and she caught a whiff of manly-scented body wash still lingering on his bronzed skin. The smell only added to her intoxication, whose initial credit was owed to the stiff drink she was still gulping from.

In this moment of excitement bordering on the verge of unfamiliar lust, Elle sensed something else, something dangerous about this man. The way he leaned in, positioning his body in an almost dominant way, was starting to make her uncomfortable, but his charming smile and silly jokes quickly put her back at ease.

Suddenly, in the distance Elle heard the sound of sirens approaching. People began flooding out from the French doors, and someone yelled, “Cops! Run!”

Before Elle realized what was happening, Erick grabbed her by the hand and began running off towards the woods behind the house. She briefly looked back and saw Krystal following her, hand-in-hand with the other man.

“This way,” Erick said in a husky voice, veering right into the woods.

Elle looked back again and saw that Krystal was no longer behind them.

“Wait!” she screamed, but he kept running, pulling her deeper into the woods.

Finally after what seemed like eternity, they slowed to a stop. Elle bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. 

After a few minutes, she straightened up and looked around. They were in unfamiliar territory, deep in the woods, surrounded by giant trees. With the realization that she was lost and accompanied by someone she had only just met, Elle felt an unsettling panic nestle deep in her gut.

Looking up at the night sky, she saw that at least the domineering moon was still with her, and this gave her comfort.

But it was short lived.

The sound of the rustling leaves in the emptiness quickly reminded her of the dire predicament she was in. No other people around, no street lights to guide her way, and no sirens nearby. Elle was lost, and possibly on her own.

“Why did we go this way? We should have followed them!”

“Nah, babe. They’re the ones who went the wrong way. The woods always gets searched about fifty feet in, and they looped back around towards the street. Busted, for sure.”

Elle was at her wits end. Being busted by the cops seemed like a better idea than being lost in the woods.

“I just have no idea where we are,” she said, shaking her head in frustration.

“You’re safe with me,” he said, with a wink. “I know these woods inside and out. Spent a lot of time in them. Plus, I can find our location on my phone.”

She watched as he pulled the phone from his pocket, and turned it on. He stared at it briefly, before letting out a sigh. “Darn, no service,” he said with a sly smile. “We’ll be fine.”

If only I’d brought my phone, Elle thought. Damn Krystal for insisting I leave it home!  Now, I’m screwed!

Elle felt a shiver go down her spine from the cool air. The skimpy tank top Krystal made her wear did a lot to show off her ample curves, but nothing to keep her warm.

She began rubbing her arms in an effort to generate some heat, unsure of what to do next.

“Chilly?” Erick asked, seeming genuinely concerned.

Elle nodded silently.

He approached her slowly and reached out, wrapping his arms around her.

She almost pushed him away, but the heat from his body was too comforting to turn down. Her body stayed rigid for several minutes, until her guard softened some, allowing her to melt into him a little.

After a while, Elle finally asked, “What are we going to do now?” Before waiting for a response, she let out a sigh and said, “I knew this was a bad idea. Damn Krystal for talking me into it.”

“What’s the problem?” he asked, squeezing her a bit tighter.

Uneasiness in the pit of her stomach began to stir, and she looked down, eying his arms suspiciously.

“I have an early flight tomorrow and still have some loose ends to wrap up. I’m heading back home until graduation to work on my interview techniques, and hopefully land my dream job.”

“Dream job? What could possibly be your dream job, beautiful?”

The heat and alcohol from his breath made her dizzy with a crawling revulsion. It seemed her own body, unfamiliar with the alcohol, yet used to detoxifying itself, was metabolizing the booze in record time, causing her to sober up faster than expected.

Elle hesitated, trying to feel out the situation before continuing. “I want to be an event coordinator at one of New York City’s premier locations.”

“Sounds glamorous.” One of Erick’s arms briefly loosened and reached out to her long hair. He touched it gently, stroking it from the top of her head down to her shoulders. “Tell me more.”

Elle shook off the strange feelings and continued. The one thing that could cloud her judgement, so to speak, were thoughts of her dream job. “I’ve been working my whole life to get my career. It’s the only thing that’s important to me. My career is my goal, my only one,” she said with conviction.

Her hand reached up gently and touched his for a moment before roughly pushing it away.  “I will do anything to achieve it. And I am not interested in a relationship.”

“Whoa baby. Don’t get tough on me. There's more than a relationship. Besides, I’m flying to LA next year after I graduate, to take a chance at acting. Already have my headshots and everything. Cousin’s an agent and said he can get me a few auditions.”

“Oh really?” Elle said with a smirk.

“No doubt baby, so what do you say? Why don’t we take advantage of this situation and christen these woods?” His fingers continued stroking her hair, while his other arm wrapped around her tightly.

“No. Can we start walking back now?”

She felt Erick’s grip around her tighten. His face moved closer to her body, into the crease of her neck, where his breathing was shallow and rushed.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Elle. We’ll stay right here. And get to know each other better. Much better. We’ll get truly acquainted.”

Oh no, Elle thought.

I should’ve never left my condo. What does this creep have in mind?

With her body trembling and an unknown fear stirring, Elle tried stepping away. Erick’s arm cinched around her waist even tighter and he gave a gentle yank on the strand of hair he was playing with.

“Ow! You’re hurting me!”

“I like to mix my pleasure with a little pain. Now, if you’ll just stop squirming and let me take you.”

“No!” she screamed, remembering her self-defense training. The class hadn’t been her idea, but was rather the insistence of Krystal’s dad, who was a karate instructor. Together, they'd taken one of his self-defense classes several years ago, and the memories from it came rushing back.

She rotated her body before Erick knew what was happening, and with one swift move her knee met his groin, followed by her heel stomping down onto the top of his foot, piercing the skin and causing blood to pool in the bottom of his flip-flop. She finished the move with a good, hard push and sent him backwards.

Erick yelled out in pain, almost like the howl of an injured animal, falling to the dirt. With one hand on his foot and the other on his groin, he yelled, “Snotty bitch! They were right about you! Stuck-up woman! I’m going to give you what you deserve!”

Elle was in such a state of shock at what she’d done, that she remained planted in place. She stared at him in horror, listening to his threats, with her heart pounding until the flight or fight mechanism finally kicked in.

Just as she was turning to run away, she saw him hop to his feet like a ninja and begin charging her. Elle screamed and started running further into the woods. She knew he was right behind her, she could hear his curses and the sound of twigs and leaves crunching.

But she was faster. All those marathons paid off, in an effort to save her life. She was losing him and saw what appeared to be some sort of cave in front of her. She could make it, hide in there until he was gone.

Almost there, maybe a few more feet and out of nowhere, her center of gravity shifted. She felt her heel catch on something and pull her back, stopping her from reaching the safe haven. She came down hard, falling flat on her face.

After a moment, she came back to reality and tried pulling her leg up, but it was no use, she couldn’t free it.

Quickly reaching back, she unhooked the strap from her shoe, releasing her foot. With pain radiating through her face and arms, she began crawling to her feet, pulling herself closer to the cave.

The sound of Erick behind her became louder as he grew near. Elle was a few mere feet from the cave, when he pounced on her. In a half-ass wrestling move, he jumped onto her back, and pinned her to the ground.

“Now you’re going to pay!” he said, through gritted teeth.

Elle bit her lip as tears of defeat stung in her eyes. A strange sense of vulnerability began coursing through her rigid body. As someone who always maintained the strictest control over her life, Elle sensed doom that the one time she let her guard down, was the time it would all be over for her. This was it. She was done. She just knew it.

“Help! Help me!” she cried.

Elle felt her shirt being ripped apart and heard a disgusting grunt from Erick. The cool air hit her skin, stinging it in anticipation for what was to come.

Maybe if I just lay here and submit, it will be over soon and I can walk out of here damaged, but still alive. He wouldn’t kill me, would he?

Her pants came off next, the flimsy material ripping apart easily. Wearing only her bra and panties, she cried out in fear, to which Erick simply laughed.

“It’s go time, baby.”

Elle screamed again, a high-pitched, blood-curdling scream. One she didn’t think could possibly come out of her own delicate mouth. This was it, and she squeezed her eyes as tight as possible wishing it was only a bad dream.

In that moment, everything seemed to go quiet. Then, she heard something; something besides the sound of the disgusting man on top of her. A rustling noise, coming at them fast, and aggressively. Erick seemed to hear it too and froze. His breath quieted. She felt his body shift before he called out, “Who’s there?”

The rustling sound came closer.

Elle felt Erick’s grip loosen on her and his body weight vanished.

She kept her eyes closed tightly, waiting for the noise to show itself, with either her being attacked by the wilding who dragged her into the woods, or the unknown; whatever had been silently watching them. Whatever it was, she knew it was going to be bad, very bad. Life changing or possibly ending.

Out of nowhere, a large howl filled the air. Elle heard Erick scramble to his feet, away from her. She heard the zipper on his pants, then the sound of a deep growl, one that was not human.

“Oh shit!” Erick yelled.

Elle opened her eyes and rolled onto her back.   From between her knees in the darkness, she saw two yellow eyes, glowing menacingly at them. The eyes were getting larger as the creature moved closer. The growl came again, this time more frightening than before. Elle held her breath for a moment as her heart pounded in her chest. The hair on the back of her neck stood straight up and her dirty hands squeezed at the earth.

“Move away from the girl,” a deep voice growled.

Elle looked up at Erick who simultaneously glanced at her, with a bewildered look on his face. The tough guy seemed to be the one shaking now.

“Get away from the girl!” The voice became louder as did the rustling, until it finally emerged. From the shadows, out came a giant half-man half-beast. It was at least ten feet tall, larger than any man Elle had ever seen.

She gasped while Erick stood frozen in shock.

“I will give you a taste of your own medicine if you do not leave now. Rape, as they call it,” the menacing voice said, this time showing large fanged teeth.

Elle quickly glanced down between the creature’s legs, but it was too dark to see what it was capable of. With a body like that, she didn’t doubt its ability to take advantage of someone.

Erick looked at Elle, and all the color seemed to drain from his face. He appeared to be going into shock.

Then in an instant, he began running off in the opposite direction.

Elle started slowly scooting towards the cave. Sticks and leaves rubbed roughly against her bare skin, but she didn’t notice. The fear and adrenaline coursing through her were enough to deaden any physical pain.

The strange looking creature approached her slowly, deliberately almost, as if it was taking the sight of her in. The large body fully emerged from the shadows and Elle gasped at what she saw.

Its massive body was bulked up and ripped with muscles. Its face was narrow, chin extremely pointy, with horns pointing up towards the sky. Dark skin, covered in what looked like coarse, animal-like hairs. And between its legs was more than she could’ve imagined.

Another gasp escaped her, but not from fear. This thing, this man-creature was not only handsome, with its chiseled face and sharp features, but it was sexy.

In a strange way that felt reminiscent of fearful excitement, Elle was turned on.

“Are you okay?” it asked, with what appeared to be concern in its yellow eyes.

Taken aback by its care, she held her tongue. The usage of any language had slipped her mind and instead she simply let out her own animalistic grunt, coupled with a nod.

“Some men have no manners,” the creature quaffed as it continued its strange approach.

“Wh-what do you want?” she managed to squeak out.

“Straight to the point, I see.” It seemed to have some sort of exotic accent, and spoke as if it had a gentleman’s degree. “Did I hear you say something during your declarations to that heathen,” it said, motioning in the direction where Erick went running, “about having a certain desire? Something so dear you’d do anything for it?”

“What?” she asked. “My career?”

“Whatever it may be, I heard your wish for someone to save you, which I have done. But, I also heard the one thing that’s most important to you, ca-reer? Is that how you say it?”

Elle nodded.

This night was getting stranger by the second.

“This ca-reer, and I do apologize as this is the first time I have heard it. I have been educated some on your language, but do not know all.” The creature seemed less animal-like the more it spoke. “Most women I meet desire a partner, house with picket fence, or beauty. Common desires of the common woman. But for you, the ca-reer?”

“I-I suppose so,” she said. But, once again, as her mind shifted, she saw herself dressed to the nines, working with the elite, and throwing the most lavish parties ever attended. “Yes, I’d do anything. I’ve already sacrificed everything a twenty-one year old girl could.”

“Hmm,” it said, circling around her near-naked body. It’s long bony fingers stroking at its chin. “What if I could give it to you? The ca-reer? It can be done in a flash of the sky.”

“You mean, as fast as lightning?”

“Yes,” the creature said eagerly, with a smile.

“How? And who or rather, what are you?” she said, a slight quiver in her voice.

A wicked smile formed on its face as it said in a low voice, “I am the keeper of animalistic desire, Elle. The one who can bestow your most coveted wish, while unleashing what’s inside you. I, my dear, am The Vaganimal.”

Elle let out a gasp. “Vaganimal?”

“Yes.” It licked its lips and looked at her menacingly.  “Now, let’s make a deal.”

*Additional Information: This is a self-published erotica short story available on Amazon.  I have several self-published and unpublished short stories, and multiple unpublished novels. My work includes erotica romance, thriller, nonfiction, and poetry. I work a day job in healthcare and am relocating to Massachusetts from Washington in July.  I have a degree in science, with aspirations of becoming a full time author. I love reading, movies, exploring, and challenging myself.  

Marina woke the next morning in a painful, disgruntled daze. A looming feeling of death coursed through her as she tried to blink her crusted eyes open. A flash of light briefly blinded her, and she tightly clamped her eyelids shut. With her head throbbing, Marina considered the possibility of having suffered a concussion in her sleep. This and the terrible ache in the calf of her right leg, made Marina wish she hadn’t woken up yet, if at all.

As she struggled to inch her dry lips apart, Marina caught the stench of her own booze and cigarette laden breath. She closed her mouth and tried swallowing, but couldn’t muster up a single drop of saliva. Her throat trembled as she tried to clear the phlegm and just as the muffled sound escaped her, she felt something move under the sheets.

Marina froze as the movement continued until finally a delicate arm emerged, draping across her body. Marina lay there corpse-like for a moment, examining the tan, lightly freckled limb now resting upon her breasts. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see a tussle of long, blonde hair and the outline of the face next to her.

Ella, she thought, as a low snore began cooing from the female's rosy lips.

What happened last night?

As she struggled to remember, the ache in her head got worse. Marina quickly gave up on trying to piece together the events of the night before and decided to get out of bed.

She lifted Ella’s arm tenderly, worming her body out from under it, exiting the bed. As her feet hit the cold floor, she reached up for her wobbly head. Marina knew she’d boozed too hard the night before.

She stood foggy for another minute before realizing she was only wearing panties. A natural modesty kicked in as she swiped her shirt and jeans up from the ground and slipped them on. She winced as the pain in her leg worsened when her jeans tugged against it.

Once suitable, she tiptoed around the nook’s corner and peeked into the trim area. Marina didn’t see anyone and continued to her suitcase, where she pulled out some work clothes before scurrying off to the bathroom.

With the door shut behind her, Marina slipped her pants down, careful to bypass the area on her leg giving her so much trouble.

A gasp escaped her lips as she saw the massive, red lump established in the middle of her calf.

“What is that?” she whispered to herself.

She examined the bulge further, probing it gently. The spot was hot to the touch like a fresh sunburn and seemed to be growing bigger by the second. Marina thought hard about the night before, but there was no point. She couldn’t remember anything.

Maybe washing off last night’s funk will make me feel better, she thought as she turned the shower on. Marina stripped the rest of her clothes off and stepped into the tub. A shrill escaped her as an arctic-like blast of water drenched her body.

As she jumped out of the shower in an effort to escape the water, her foot slipped and she face-planted into her own dirty clothes. A ringing sound drifted through her ears as the throbbing in her head reached maximum capacity. Tears of defeat stung in her eyes as she lay there, wondering if it was worth getting up at all or if she should just wave the white flag and surrender her nose to sniffing skuzzy underwear the rest of day.

After what seemed like a never-ending mind debate, Marina gathered the little bit of grit she had left and pushed herself up from the ground. She took a deep breath, swallowed her emotions, and turned off the shower. With her face still stinging and curses coming from her mouth, she wrapped a towel around her body. She was now mentally kicking herself for not remembering that if she wanted hot water, she’d have to turn the gas heater on.

Marina unlatched the flimsy lock on the door and exited the bathroom to find Sonny. He’d have to show her how to do it. As she approached the screen door, she saw him at his usual spot on the deck, drinking coffee, and practicing his meditation.

“Hi Sonny,” she grumbled, approaching him from behind.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he replied, turning towards her. “I thought I heard a bang in there. Everything okay?” he asked, giving her a once over.

Marina opened her mouth to speak, “Yes, well no,” she began, but stopped when she saw a look of shock flash across his face.

“What is it?” she asked in a panic. “Sonny, tell me what’s wrong.”

He shot up from the deck and began walking towards her. “Marina, let me see your mouth. Open it up, wide for me.”

As she followed his instructions her tongue began conducting a search of its own, tracing her lips first, followed by her teeth. Sonny was now standing in front of her, looking closely at her mouth.

“Marina, I don’t know how to say this, but,” and he paused, like he was trying to gather the courage to tell her something horrible.

In that moment, she knew what he was going to say. Her tongue had already figured it out. There was a sharp edge to one of her front teeth that hadn’t been there before. Her eyes widened as her tongue traced over it again and again.

“Oh god,” she whispered. “It’s chipped, isn’t it?”

Sonny stared at her with bewilderment as if she were a wild animal about to attack. His hands moved protectively onto her shoulders, holding her in place.

“Now Marina, it’s not as bad as you think,” he began. “There are plenty of dentists in the area.”

Tears filled her eyes as she felt a sharp pain come from the tip of her tongue. The metallic taste of blood filled her mouth.

Marina closed her mouth and slowly backed away from Sonny, wiggling out of his grip. She turned around and as calmly as she could, went back inside The Fort and straight to the bathroom. She watched in the broken mirror as his reflection followed her. She bent over the sink, opened her mouth up wide to see what her new smile looked like, and all the air left her body.

Her once perfectly polished teeth were now flawed. A small, but clearly visible chip was missing from one of the front two. Her tongue, still bleeding, slipped over it. Marina brought a manicured finger up to her mouth and felt the sharp edge.

Sonny closed in on her again. “Marina, its okay. It’s not that noticeable. You can call a dentist up here and get it fixed if you want.”

Marina was shaking her head as the tears continued filling her eyes. “Not that noticeable, Sonny? How can you even say that?”

Her body began to grow hot as anger consumed her. “I’m not cut out for this place! I suck at my job and I’m a city girl! Not some hillbilly woods-woman!” Hot tears rolled down her cheeks. “Hell, I can’t even take care of myself!”

“Marina calm down, please. Ella’s still sleeping in here.”

Her breath caught as she thought of Ella.

A memory from the night before came back to her.

Her hands groping Ella’s soft body, their mouths together, the sensual way Ella tickled her skin, and how uninhibited she'd been.

Marina’s head dropped in shame. Her body began pulsing with desire, while her face burned. Feelings of lust and embarrassment competed with each other.

How could I have done that?

Making out with someone I don’t even know, let alone a woman.

What's happening to me?

Or, what kind of person is this place turning me into?

Sonny shifting his weight broke Marina from her thoughts.

She took a deep breath and said, “I’m an adult and still don’t even know what I want. I don’t even know who I am.”

“Who do you want to be?” a soft voice asked.

Marina turned and saw Ella standing in the doorway wearing nothing but a flannel shirt and her panties from the night before. Small, sleepy eyes seemed to engulf Marina, pulling at her heart. The smile Ella wore could melt butter in the middle of a blizzard.

Marina began stuttering something, but was stopped short by the strange look on Ella's face.

God, she already sees right through me. I'm such a mess. A phony.

Sweat popped up across her body as an embarrassed heat swept over her. Her nails began digging into her palms, and she bit her bottom lip.

As the fresh blood met her tongue, Marina was finally getting a taste of what obstacles she would would soon face. This trip would give her the chance to finally figure out who she really was.